Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: The Commissioner/Secretary to Govt Forest Ecology and Environment department, Sanjeev Verma conducted an extensive tour of Kandi areas of Kathua district to inspect the development works executed by the various wings of Forest Department in a concerted way for mitigation of the water scarcity in the Kandi landscape.
He, alongwith the Pr Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), J&K, Dr Mohit Gera, Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Suresh Kumar Gupta, Director Soil and Water Conservation Department, J&K Dr TS Ashok Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, K. Ramesh Kumar, Asstt Commissioner, Revenue, Kathua and senior officers of the Forest, Social Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation, Wildlife and Rural Development Departments visited Dhamiyal, Satoora, Saida, Sowal, Bajoka Chack, Chandwan, Haria Chack, Lachipur and Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary.
Verma appreciated the efforts of the Forest, Social Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation Department for carrying out extensive plantations and construction and maintenance of Water Harvesting Structures in water-scarce Kandi areas of Kathua. He, however, stressed the need for scaling up and synergizing the efforts of various wings of Forest Department with the water conservation works being carried out by Rural Development Department.
He directed the various stake holder departments to formulate plans for the development of fringe lands by planting multipurpose and fast growing species and construction of water harvesting structures to cater to the local needs for fodder, firewood and water, thereby reducing the pressure on the inviolate pristine forest areas and to increase the tree cover outside forest land. He was apprised that in the next financial year, the Forest Department intends to rehabilitate 1365 hectares of severely degraded forest areas in Kandi belt by planting 3.35 lakh saplings of local species alongwith construction of 47 ponds and bowlies.
The Commissioner/ Secretary issued directions for preparation of Management Plans for the major ponds constructed by Soil and Water Conservation Department and to involve local youth clubs in their protection and management. Stressing upon the role of forestry interventions in water conservation in Kandi areas, Verma asked the Forest and Social Forestry Department to create buffer plantations in the periphery of the existing protected forest areas to take the biotic pressure off these inviolate forest landscapes by way of planting grasses, bamboos and fodder species. He also visited Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary and reviewed the ongoing works of Wildlife Department.
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